Apparatus for delivering ingots from a vertical type continuous casting installation



United States Patent Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Priority Alexandr lsaakovich Turban,

Prnspekt Mira, 188, korpus 4,1rv. 46; Alexandr Stepanovich Kaushansky, Verklmaya Maslovka 72, lrv. 128; Vladimir Alexandrovich Butkevich, Lomonosky Prospekt, 23, kv. 324, and Alexey Nikolaevich Grigoriev, Prospekt Mira,

188, korpus 3, kv. 224, allsz l-s- J 685,504

Nov. 24, 1967 Dec. 22, 1970 Nov. 23, 1966 USS-R.

No. l 1 1,984

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING INGOTS FROM A VERTICAL TYPE CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

Int. L22d 11/08 [50] Field of Search 164/82, 89, 273, 274, 282, 283

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,947,075 8/1960 Schneckenburger et al.. 164/283X 3,338,297 8/1967 Foldessy 164/282X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,217,031 5/ 1966' Germany 164/282 930,193 7/ 1 963 Great Britain 164/282 642,786 7/1962 Italy 164/282 407,422 8/ 1 966 Switzerland 164/282 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assxktant Examiner-R. Spencer Annear Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: A curved guide for the removal of an ingot from a casting plant isprovided with a dummy bar and two rests for binding the ingot and separating the dummy bar. Also provided are supporting and pressure rollers. The guide is pivotable in a vertical plane.

PATENTED UEC22 I976 SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTEU [1Ec2219m 3.648320 SHEET 2 BF 3 FIG. 2

/l( 4 I 6 12 1 'i 14 L'J PATENTED 05222 I970 sum 3 OF 3 dsj APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING INGOTS FROM A VERTICAL TYPE CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION The present invention relates to the field of metallurgy, and more particularly to apparatus for delivering an ingot from a continuous casting plant. a

Known in the prior art is a method involving bending of an ingot separated from a dummy bar, which ingot is then directed into a horizontal section. r

For etfecting this method, there are available plants for continuous casting of metals, comprising means for bending an ingot, made in the form of an articulated-lever complete with a drive for rotation; means for directing said ingot along an arc in the form of a curvilinear guide; and means for straightening said ingot such as a straightening machine provided with two pressure rollers located above. supporting rollers with the omission of at least one supporting roller.

In said device, the ingot passes along the curvilinear guide between the pressure and supporting rollers with a view to straightening the bent ingot. a

The existing method includes applying forces, during straightening of the ingot, to .the' f bers compressed during bending. This complicates the design of the plant, since for effectingoperations of. separating the dummy bar from the ingot, bending the ingot, I directingv the 1 ingot along the curvilinear guide, and straightening the ingot there are employed independent appliances with individual drives 1 and a com plicated system connecting the same. a

This causes an increase in the weight and overall dimensions of the plant, as well as an increase in the distance between the adjacent strings when employing the multiple-string casting.

An object of thepresent invention is toprovide improved apparatus for delivering ani'ngot from a continuous casting plant, whichallows simplifying the design of the bending section, and for straightening the ingot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improvements in apparatus for delivering 'an, ingot which permit a reduction in, the weightand overalldirnensions of the apparatus.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide improvements which allow a decrease in the distance between strings when effecting multiple-string casting.

The above and other object of the invention are attained owing to the use of apparatus for deliveringan ingot from a continuous casting plant, in which the ingot separated from the dummy bar is bent so as to be directed into the horizontal section with a subsequent straightening thereof under the action of transverse forces at its withdrawal from the plant and in which an active force is applied to the convex side of the ingot so as to straighten it.

The proposed improvement is carried into. effectby usinga device, in which the ingot passes along a curvilinear guide between supporting and pressure rollers'for straightening the bent ingot, and in which, in conformity with the invention, the pressure roller is provided on the curvilinear guide at the lower portion thereof, while supporting rollers are arranged above the pressure roller at both sides thereof.

The apparatus is further designed in such a manner that between the supporting rollers and above the pressure roller there is a driven roller for delivering the ingot from the plant.

Moreover, in the device of the invention, a' rest for bending the ingot fore-end and a rest for separating the dummy bar may be mounted on the curvilinear guide inits upper portion, while means for rotating said guide is, disposed between said rests.

For a better, understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following description of an exemplary embodimentof the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a continuous casting plant (a general view with a partial cutaway along its axis whenthe dummy bar head is passing through a curvilinear guide thereof;

FIG. 2 illustrates the bottom part of the plant (shown with a partial cutaway along its axis) at the moment of bending the ingot fore'end and separating the dummy bar;

FIG. 3 illustrates the lower portion of the plant (shown with a partial cross-sectional view along-its'axis) when the ingot fore-end is passing the curvilinear guide;

FIG. 4 illustrates the lower portion of the plant (shown with a partial cross-sectiona1 view along its axis) after straightening the ingot; and

FIGS illustrates the lower portion of the plant (shown with a partial cross-sectional view along its aiiis) when the dummy bar is taken out of the plant.

The continuous casting plant, shown in FIG. 1, comprises a main pouring ladle l, a tundish 2, a mold Sin which a continu' ous ingot 4 is formed, a dummy bar 5, a secondary cooling zone 6, withdrawal rolls 7, and an arrangement for delivering the ingot from the plant.

The arrangement for delivering the'ingot from the plant comprises a curvilinear guide 8. Mountedfon said guide in its upper portion are rests 9 and 10 intended for bending the ingot fore-end and for separating the dummy bar respectively.

' To pass a bent ingot, along the entire length of the guide 8 use is made of guiding means in the form of rollers 11.

Provided in the lower portion of the curvilinear guide 8 from the side of fibers tensioned in the process of bending is a pressure roller 12 imparting an active force for straightening the ingot.

. The curvilinear guide 8 is suspended and secured on an articulated support 13 arranged between the rests 9 and 10 of the curvilinear guide, which support is rotated in the vertical plane by means of a hydraulic cylinder 14mounted on journals 15. The rotation of the curvilinear guide 8 is required for displacing the pressure roller 12 when straightening the ingot and for moving the rests 9 and I0 effecting at the moment of rotating the curvilinear guide 8 the bending of the ingot foreend and separating the dummy bar respectively.

Disposed above the pressure roller 12 of the curvilinear guide 8 is a stationary frame 16 provided with supporting rollers 17, 18, arranged at both sides of the pressure roller 12.

Mounted between the supporting rollers 17 and 18 and above the pressure roller 12 also in the stationary frame 16 is another roller 19 designed as a driven roller and intended for delivering the ingot from the plant.

A withdrawal roll table 20 complete with a pressure roller 21, driven roller 22 and supporting rollers 23 and 24 (FIGS. 4 and 5) are intended for receiving the dummy bar. The

withdrawal roll table 20 (FIG. 2) is mounted on journals 25,

and is provided with a drive for rotation .from a cylinder 26 mounted in journals 27. A roll table 28. (FIG. 5) is intended for maintaining the dummy bar in the horizontal position.

A roll table 29 (FIG. 4) is provided for withdrawing the straightened ingot.

The plant operates as follows:

From melting units, molten metal is supplied to the plant in the main pouring ladle 1 (FIG. 1) and through the tundish 2 is brought to the mold 3'. The ingot 4 is extracted by the dummy bar 5, and directed into a secondary cooling zone 6. The dummy bar 5 as handled by the withdrawal rolls 7 passes between therests 9 and 10 of the curvilinear guide 8.

At this moment the curvilinear guide 8 is brought into its upper position by the aid of a hydraulic cylinder 14.

The lower end of the dummy bar 5 moves into the withdrawal roll table 20 being there caught by the pressure roller 21 and driven roller 22 rotating synchronously with rolls of the withdrawal stand 7. The hydraulic cylinder 14 is actuated as soon as the head of the dummybar 5 and the fore-end of the ingot 4 pass the rest 9.

The curvilinear guide 8 is turned downwards in the articulated support 13; the rest 9 pushes the fore-end of the ingot 4,

while the rest 10 pushes the dummy bar 5. Thus the dummy curvature line of the guide 8. The dummy bar 5 together with the withdrawal roll table 20 is made to deviate on the trunnions 25 about the axis of the driven roller 22, and is retained in the inclined position by a cylinder 26 by means of rollers 23 and 24. When in this position, it is possible to carry out servicing and maintenance of the dummy bar.

As soon as the fore-end of the ingot 4 (FIG. 3) moves out from the curvilinear guide, the hydraulic cylinder 14 is actuated for effecting the guide raise, which by the aid of the rest and guiding rollers 11 will raise the ingot 4 for straightening it subsequently.

When moving upwards, the pressure roller 12 presses the ingot to the supporting rollers 17 and 18 and driven roller 19, and straightens said ingot.

The straightened ingot 4 arrives on a roll table 29 (FIG. 4) where it is cut up to measured lengths to be subsequently rolled. Upon emerging of the rear end of the ingot 4 from the withdrawal roll stand 7, the transporting thereof along the curvilinear guide 8 is effected by means of the pressure roller 12, driven roller 19 and roll table 29.

When the rear end of the ingot 4 (FIG. 1) emerges on the roll table 29, the withdrawal roll table 20 is adjusted by the aid of the cylinder 26 into the vertical position, the dummy bar 5 is furnished by the rolls 21 and 22 between the rests 9 and 10 of the curvilinear guide 8 into the withdrawal roll stand 7, and then into the mold 3.

When replacing the dummy bar 5 (FIG. 5), it is turned into the horizontal position with the aid of the hydraulic cylinder 26.

The upper portion of the dummy bar 5 adjusts thereby on rollers of a stationary roll table 28. The drive of the roller 22 is thereby actuated; the dummy bar passes between two guiding rollers 11 of the curvilinear guide 8, resting against the lower one of said rollers 11, and arrives on the supporting rollers 17 and 18 and driven roller 19, which is intended to move the dummy bar outside the plant. The dummy bar is removed from the supporting rollers 17 and 18 by a crane. The new dummy bar is introduced into the plant by proceeding in the order reverse to that described above.

When casting ingots of various cross sections, the supporting rollers 17 and 18 and the driven roller 19 are made adjustable as to the height within a range of variation of the thickness of ingots being cast.

When being of a great length, the dummy bar 5 may be designed with a hinge joint provided in its central portion, owing to which there is effected a deviation in the direction of the lower end of the dummy bar 5 when it is lowered by the withdrawal roll table 20, as well as folding of the dummy bar 5, as if it were a knife, on the supporting rollers 17, 18 and on the driven roller 18 when delivering it out of the plantj It is apparent that the present invention is not limited by the exemplary embodiment thereof thus described; on the basis thereof, there may be allowed'other embodiments of the invention, which do not deviate from the scope of the invention subject.

Thus, for example, rests and guiding members of the cur vilinear guide may be designed in the form of gliding surfaces. There may be also provided means for extracting the straightened ingot-in the form of a pair of vertical or a pair of horizontal pressure rollers.

Though the present invention is described in connection with its preferred embodiment, it is obvious that there may be allowed modifications and variants thereof, that do not deviate from the idea and scope of the invention, which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

These variations and modifications are understood not to depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device for delivering an ingot from a vertical-type continuous casting plant, wherein the ingot after being separated from the dummy bar is bent to be able to travel in a horizontal direction, comprisin withdrawal rolls, a curvilinear guide having an upper en and being fixed below the withdrawal rolls and adapted for turning at or near its upper end to insure upward and downward movement in a vertical plane; supporting rollers and at least one pressure roller for straightening the bent ingot when the latter passes between said rollers, said pressure roller being mounted in the lower portion of said curvilinear guide, and a stationary frame, said supporting rollers being installed in the stationary frame above said pressure roller and on both sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis of said pressure roller when said curvilinear guide is in a raised position.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a driven roller mounted between the supporting rollers and above the pressure roller and adapted for delivering the ingot from the plant.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a dummy bar adjacent said guide, a rest adapted for bending the fore-end of the ingot, and a rest adapted for separating the dummy bar, said rests being provided in the upper part of the curvil near guide, the axis of rotation of said curvilinear guide is disposed between said rests. 

